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Early Christianity and Patristics: Late Antiquity (IV – VI CE)
Religious Diversity in Late Antiquity by David Gwynn et al.draws together recent research by archaeologists and historians to shed new light on the religious world of Late Antiquity. A detailed bibliographic essay provides an overview of relevant literature, while individual articles explore the diversity of late antique religion.
The Oxford Handbook of Late Antiquity by Scott Fitzgerald Johnsonoverview of a period (c. 300-700 CE). covers the fall of Rome, the rise of Christianity, the origins of Islam, and the early formation of Byzantium and the European Middle Ages. Online available.
World of Late Antiquity : AD 150-750 by Peter Brown; Geoffrey Barracloughshows that the period was one of outstanding new beginnings and defines the far-reaching impact both of Christianity on Europe and of Islam on the Near East. Answers how the homogeneous Mediterranean world of c. 200 A.D. became divided into the three mutually estranged societies of the Middle Ages: Catholic Western Europe, Byzantium, and Islam.
The Making of Late Antiquity by Peter BrownPeter Brown presents a masterly history of Roman society in the second, third, and fourth centuries. Brown interprets the changes in social patterns and religious thought, breaking away from conventional modern images of the period. Online available.
Through the Eye of a Needle: wealth, the fall of Rome, and the making of Christianity in the West, 350-550 AD by Peter Brownhistory of the vexing problem of wealth in Christianity in the waning days of the Roman Empire. examines the rise of the church through the lens of money and the challenges it posed to an institution that espoused the virtue of poverty and called avarice the root of all evil. examines the controversies and changing attitudes toward money caused by the influx of new wealth into church coffers. Online available.
Late Ancient Christianity by Virginia Burrusfocus on the everyday realities of Christians' lives in the era of Christian ascendancy and Roman decline. Popular fiction, child rearing and toys, rituals of inclusion, the beginning of veneration of saints and shunning of heretics, the ascetic impulse, food practices.
Ostia in Late Antiquity by Douglas Bointackles the dynamics of this transformative time. Drawing on new archaeological research, and incorporating both material and textual sources, it presents a social history of the town from the third through the ninth century.
Hispania in Late Antiquity by Kimberly Diane Bowesmakes recent work on late antique Hispania available to a non-specialist audience outside the Iberian peninsula. The central theme is the integration of Hispania into the larger world of the later Roman empire. Topics covered include Christianization, urbanism, villas and land tenure, trade, and military topography. Online available.
Christianizing Egypt by David Frankfurterenvisioning the process of Christianization by looking at the construction of Christianity in the various social and creative worlds active in Egyptian culture during late antiquity. addresses the domestic sphere, holy men and saints' shrines, craftsmen and artisans, monastic scribes, and the landscape, through processions, architecture, etc. Online available.
Late Antiquity Sources
Readings in Late Antiquity by Michael Maasdraws from Greek, Latin, Syriac, Hebrew, Coptic, Persian, Arabic and Armenian sources. The Roman empire is kept at the centre of discussion, with chapters devoted to government, society, army, law, medicine, philosophy, Christianity, polytheism and Jews.
Late Antiquity : a guide to the postclassical world by comprehensive essays and in over 500 encyclopedic entries. Online available.
Late Antiquity: A Very Short Introduction by Late antiquity: decline or transformation, conflict or interaction? introduction to the concept of late antiquity and the events of its time. Online available.
Religious Diversity in Late Antiquity by draws together recent research by archaeologists and historians to shed new light on the religious world of Late Antiquity. A detailed bibliographic essay provides an overview of relevant literature, while individual articles explore the diversity of late antique religion.
Approaching Late Antiquity : the transformation from early to late empire by essays on the later Roman world. Online available.
The Oxford Handbook of Late Antiquity by overview of a period (c. 300-700 CE). covers the fall of Rome, the rise of Christianity, the origins of Islam, and the early formation of Byzantium and the European Middle Ages. Online available.
World of Late Antiquity : AD 150-750 by shows that the period was one of outstanding new beginnings and defines the far-reaching impact both of Christianity on Europe and of Islam on the Near East. Answers how the homogeneous Mediterranean world of c. 200 A.D. became divided into the three mutually estranged societies of the Middle Ages: Catholic Western Europe, Byzantium, and Islam.
The Making of Late Antiquity by Peter Brown presents a masterly history of Roman society in the second, third, and fourth centuries. Brown interprets the changes in social patterns and religious thought, breaking away from conventional modern images of the period. Online available.
The Making of Christian Communities in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages by considers the development and spread of Christianity between Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, and includes analysis of the formation and development of Christian communities in a variety of arenas.
The Family in Late Antiquity: the rise of Christianity and the endurance of tradition by study of the family in the late Roman world and the influence of the emerging Christian religion on its structure and value.
Through the Eye of a Needle: wealth, the fall of Rome, and the making of Christianity in the West, 350-550 AD by history of the vexing problem of wealth in Christianity in the waning days of the Roman Empire. examines the rise of the church through the lens of money and the challenges it posed to an institution that espoused the virtue of poverty and called avarice the root of all evil. examines the controversies and changing attitudes toward money caused by the influx of new wealth into church coffers. Online available.
Late Ancient Christianity by focus on the everyday realities of Christians' lives in the era of Christian ascendancy and Roman decline. Popular fiction, child rearing and toys, rituals of inclusion, the beginning of veneration of saints and shunning of heretics, the ascetic impulse, food practices.
Corinth in Late Antiquity: a Greek, Roman and Christian city by evidence from ancient literary sources, extensive archaeological excavations and historical records, surveys this period of urban transformation, from the old Agora and temples to new churches and fortifications.
Ostia in Late Antiquity by tackles the dynamics of this transformative time. Drawing on new archaeological research, and incorporating both material and textual sources, it presents a social history of the town from the third through the ninth century.
Hispania in Late Antiquity by makes recent work on late antique Hispania available to a non-specialist audience outside the Iberian peninsula. The central theme is the integration of Hispania into the larger world of the later Roman empire. Topics covered include Christianization, urbanism, villas and land tenure, trade, and military topography. Online available.
Rome in Late Antiquity : everyday life and urban change, AD 312-609 by This is a history of life in ancient Rome from the third to the seventh centuries AD. includes a guide to further reading. Online available.
Christianizing Egypt by envisioning the process of Christianization by looking at the construction of Christianity in the various social and creative worlds active in Egyptian culture during late antiquity. addresses the domestic sphere, holy men and saints' shrines, craftsmen and artisans, monastic scribes, and the landscape, through processions, architecture, etc. Online available.
Readings in Late Antiquity by draws from Greek, Latin, Syriac, Hebrew, Coptic, Persian, Arabic and Armenian sources. The Roman empire is kept at the centre of discussion, with chapters devoted to government, society, army, law, medicine, philosophy, Christianity, polytheism and Jews.